Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed profound grief over the demise of Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the paramount ruler of Badagry. The monarch, who was one of the most respected traditional leaders in Lagos State, passed away on Monday, January 12, 2026.
A Reign of Peace and Cultural Stewardship
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo described the news as shocking. He reflected on the late Oba's impactful life, which spanned eight decades, and his remarkable 50-year reign over the Badagry Kingdom.
Obasanjo noted that Badagry, a town of immense historical significance, enjoyed notable peace and stability under the monarch's rule. He praised the Akran as a "robust repertoire of the finest aspects of our cultural and artistic heritage" since pre-colonial times.
"He would be remembered as a patriot and custodian of our cultural and traditional values, who gave his best while on the throne of his forefathers," the former President stated.
From Classroom and Newsroom to the Throne
Before his ascension to the throne, Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I had a distinguished career in education and journalism. He worked as a teacher in several schools within the Badagry Division before venturing into media.
His journalism career began in 1961 at the West African Pilot, where he served as a diplomatic correspondent and chief reporter. He later worked at the Daily Sketch as a senior sub-editor and then at The New Nigeria newspapers, rising to the position of Acting News Editor (South).
His excellence earned him an International Press Institute grant to study at the University of East Africa. There, he obtained a diploma with distinction and shared a prize on the Law of the Press with a Ugandan journalist.
A Legacy of Leadership and National Service
The Lagos State Government's Executive Council approved his appointment as the Akran of Badagry on October 7, 1976. His official coronation took place on April 23, 1977.
Beyond his kingdom, he served the nation in various capacities:
- Member of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission (1979-1983).
- Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
- Representative of the Council at the enlarged National Council of States in Abuja (1990).
He was also the Chairman of the Chieftaincy Committee in Badagry Local Government and a patron to numerous organisations. In recognition of his service, he was honoured with the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on March 7, 1981.
Obasanjo, who was in Ethiopia on a continental assignment, extended his condolences to the Governor of Lagos State, the people of Badagry, and the royal family. He urged them to find solace in the belief that "his Creator loves him more." He highlighted the late monarch's role as an apostle of inter-ethnic understanding, religious tolerance, and cultural cooperation, whose influence fostered unity and development in Badagry and beyond.
